An open letter supporting Trans* Netflix employees

As trans* Googlers and their allies, we feel that silence is an inappropriate response to the recent events at Netflix and subsequent walkouts. In this letter, the opinions we express are entirely our own and do not represent our employer in any way.

We would like to express our support for and solidarity with the Trans* Netflix employee resource group and their demands voiced in the leadup to their walkout last Wednesday, October 20. In particular:

• We support the right of every trans and non-binary person to work in a safe place that is free from transphobic imagery and references.
• We affirm the importance of representation for trans people, especially BIPOC, in high-level leadership roles (Director, VP, etc.) at all companies, but particularly in big technology and media companies where decisions are made that could disproportionately affect the safety of vulnerable minorities.
• We believe that every technology and media company has an obligation to monitor and mitigate the harm done by the products they produce and the services they provide — whether it’s content distribution, search, artificial intelligence, or social networking.
• We stand with Trans* Netflix in calling for better promotion of trans-affirming and trans*-creators. We call on all big technology and media companies to invest in better portrayal of trans people, particularly BIPOC, in all forms of media.

We recognize that many of these demands apply equally to our employer and to the platforms and technologies we produce. We do not take lightly the responsibility to encourage our own employer to make similar changes and to be held to a similar standard. We call on all employees of big technology and media companies to follow the lead of Trans* Netflix by holding their employers accountable for the social impact of their decisions. Together, we can make a safer, more inclusive future for everyone.

Sincerely,
319 Googlers